Organ Valley Research Natural Area Establishment Record

The Organ Valley Research Natural Area (OVRNA) is distinguished by the presence of stands of open and dense Engelmann oak woodland along with areas of southern mixed chaparral, chamise chaparral, and southern coast live oak riparian forest. All community types within the OVRNA are restricted to Southern California, two of which only occur on the Cleveland National Forest. Six Forest sensitive plant species are known to occur within the RNA boundaries.

The OVRNA encompasses the south slope of Black Mountain, and drainage of the area is to the southwest. The entire OVRNA is underlain by granitic and gabbroic rock, and the Las Posas and Reiff soil series characterize the majority of the soils of the OVRNA.